Portable drying machine



DechLS, 1936. w. 1.. MARTIN PORTABLE DRYING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 19342 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 15, 1936. w. MARTIN PORTABLE DRYING MACHINE FiledSept. 19, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 8 (O 5 E .M an. W:

Patented Dec. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PORTABLE DRYING MACHINE Wendell L.Martin, Cleveland, Ohio, assig'nor to The Martin Brothers ElectricCompany, Cleveland, Ohio Application September 19, 1934, SerialNo.-744,644

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in portable drying machines andmore particularly to hair or hand drying machines of the type designedfor use in beauty parlors etc., where following washing and treating ofthe hair and hands, it is necessary to rapidly dry the hair and handswithout deleterious effect. These machines utilize a recirculatingcurrent of heated air as drying medium. The air current is supplied bymechanism carried by and movable with the machine and is heated to thedesired temperature by subjecting same to the influence of one or moreelectric heating elements. However heating of the recirculating aircurrent by electricity is costly and does not permit of desirabletemperature adjustments within close ranges, except by the use ofnumerous heating elements and complicated and expensive wiring.

Having in mind these defects of prior art portable drying machines, itis an object of my invention to provide a portable drying machine thatembodies electric heating means and gas or vapor heating means forcombined and/or individual heating effect upon a circulating aircurrent.

Another object of my invention is to provide a portable drying machineof the type referred to with a gas or vapor heater adapted to preheatair and feed same into the drier head for recirculation therein, whereit is subject to the influence 30 of a single electric heating elementdimensioned to keep air at the desired temperature.

These objects and further novel features that l consider characteristicof my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and itsmethod of operation together with additional objects and advantagesthereof, will bestbe understood from the following description of aspecific embodiment, when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a portable drying machine embodying thefeatures of my invention;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the drying machine shown in Figure 1;

view on line 33 of Figure 2, showing the ext-ensi- Figure 3 is anenlarged fragmentary sectional Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinalsectional view through the drier head; and

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view on line B6 of Figure 5, showing theinlet connection between the connection pipe and the drier head.

In theembodiment of my invention illustrated, I show in Figures 1 and .2a portable drying machine embodying a hollow pedestal base 2, which inthe present instance is mounted upon casters 3, so as to be readilymobile. The pedestal base embodies a substantially rectangular,elongated housing 4, in the nature of a standard, having mounted thereina gas or vapor burner unit 5 adapted to directits flames toward andaround a seriesof Venturidike tubes 6, which tubes extend crosswise orlaterally through the housing 4 and communlcate'at one end with the openatmosphere. The tubes 6 also communicate with a cylindricalchamber 1,arranged opposite to said tubes at onetside of the housing 4. Thischamber 20 in turn communicates with the drier head 8 of the machine bymeans of an extensible pipe connection 9, to permit of air enteringthrough tubes 6 into. thechamber l, being drawn into the drier head 8;by suction means such as a fan 43, as will be later described. Theextensible pipe connection 9 consists of two telescoped pipe sections l0and l [,whichzaremreferably of rectangular cross sectionandcommunicatewith the chamber 1 and the drier head8 respectively. The pipe 10 whichcommunicates with the chamber 1 by means of an elongated slot t2-inithecylindrical wall I4 of said chamber, is pivotally coupled with the frontwall I 5.- of said chamber by means of an integral, downwardly extendingarm 16, in turn secured to the central'portion of said front wall bymeans of a bolt IT. This arrangement permits of a swinging movementofthepipe in properly spaced relation with respect-,tolthe cylindrical wall Mof the chamber 1, whereby the drier head can be convenientlyelevated orlowered to the desired position. Thepipe i0 is also provided with twooppositely arrangedblade-like yielding curved extensions l3,- whichslidably engage the cylindrical wall M at oppositesides-of the pipe l0and narrow the gslotl2 in-said wall in any adjusted position vof saidpipe" to the width thereof. The pipe H which telescopes at its one endl8 into the pipe i0 is at its outer endat l9 hingedly connected to anelbow 20, and the latter is rigidly secured to- 50 the. drier head-8forcommunication with the interior -thereof, as will be hereinafter morefully described. 'Thehinged connection l9 permits of theelbow 20--anddrier head 8 being freely tilted with respecttothe pipe I [,uwhereasthetpipe con- 55 nection 9 permits of free adjustment of the drier headin a vertical plane.

The drier head 8 comprises a substantially cylindrical hood 2|, to bedirected toward the head and hair of the person, whose hair is to betreated and dried and to partially embrace the head of such person. Thishood 2! is carried by a vertical tubular support 22, secured to the hood2| by means of a bracket 40, as will be later described, through themedium of interposed linkage mechanism 23, which mechanism is thesubject of applicants co-pending application for Letters Patent Ser. No.603,024 and therefore neednot here be described in detail. Tubularsupport 22 is guided in a bracket member 24 arranged within the casing 4and is adjustably supported by means of a collar 25 at the top of saidcasing, through which collar the support 22 extends. A thumb screw 26 oncollar 25 tightly clamps the tubular support in any adjusted position.

The hood 2| comprises an outer cylindrical shell 27 and an innercylindrical shell 28, which shells are connected together and spacedfrom each other by curved fins or guide members 29, secured at theiropposite sides to the outer and inner shells, in any suitable manner, asby welding. The outer shell 2'! supports at its front end a ring-shapedmember 36 attached thereto in any suitable manner, and this memberintercepts with its inwardly inclined wall 3|, the air stream issuingfrom the drier and deflects this air stream radially inwardly againstthe head and hair. The inner end of the shell 21 is secured to asubstantially bell-shaped casing 32, having its annular flange 33pressed upon and tightly interlocked with the shell 21. This casing isprovided with an annular shoulder portion 34 supporting an electricmotor 35, in turn provided with a forwardly extending shaft 35' to whicha centrifugal fan, indicated in its entirety at 43, is fixed by means ofa set screw 43. This fan, as will be hereinafter explained draws airinwardly in a centrally disposed stream through the inner shell 28 andexpels this air outwardly in a substantially ring-shaped streamsurrounding the infiowing air stream, through the space between theinner shell 28 and the outer shell 21, which space is subdivided by thefins or guide members 29, adapted to intercept the swirling air anddirect the same in a forward direction. The electric motor is suitablymounted on the shoulder portion 34, by means of angular brackets 36which carry shock absorbing soft rubber thimbles 3'! in their perforatedends. These rubber thimbles yieldingly receive screw members 38, 38'attached to the motor 35 and the bell-shaped casing 32 respectively, sothat the motor is yieldingly supported within the bell-shaped casing 32.

The screw members 38' are of substantial length and extend through thewall of the casing 32 into bosses 39 of the bracket 40 thus securingsaid casing to said bracket, the later in turn being attached to thevertical tubular support 22 previously referred to. The bracket 40preferably a casing of elastic form, which partly encloses the casing32, as will readily be seen from an inspection of Figures 1 and 2,embodies at its upper rear portion a slotted area 4 1. Air is thuspermitted to enter into the casing 32 through the slots 42 in said areaand also through a central opening 32 in the rear wall 44 of the casing32. The lower portion of the bracket 48 mounts a switch 45 and acondenser 46, both of which are electrically connected with the motor 35and a heating coil 41 arranged within the ring-shaped space betweenshells 21 and 28, for convenient opening and closing of the motorcircuit, and starting and stopping of the motor and proper heating ofthe air current flowing through the ring shaped space in a forwarddirection, according to common practice.

The casing 32 is partly subdivided by a cupshaped centrally perforatedpartition wall 49, to provide a substantially ring-shaped rear chamberportion 50 and afront chamber portion 5|. These chamber portionscommunicate with each other through the central opening 53 in thepartition wall 49. The rear chamber portion 50 also communicates withthe chamber 7 by means of the pipe connection 9 and elbow 20, whichlatter is extended through the outer wall of this chamber portion andhas its flange 48 welded to the inner face of said wall. The frontchamber portion 5| has rotatably confined therein the fan 43, whichcomprises a disk 54 having a forwardly curved outer periphery 55 and aplurality of fan blades 56, extending at right angles to the inner planeof the disk 54. These fan blades 56 are provided with flanges 57, whichare secured to the disk 54. Each of these fan blades has its inner andouter lip portions 58, 59 respectively curved in the same direction, andthe fan blades are offset with respect to the axis of the disk 54 sothat the air displaced by the fan flows inwardly toward the fan in acentrally disposed stream and when intercepted by the blades is forcedradially outward toward the curved periphery 55 of the disk 54, whichperiphery then deflects the air forwardly in a substantially cylindricalstream surrounding the inwardly flowing air stream. A plurality of fanblades 60, secured to the outer face of the disk 54, draw air from therear chamber portion 50 through the opening 53 and thus insure a freshsupply of heated air from the cylindrical chamber 1. At the same timeair is drawn through the slots 42 and opening 32 around the motor 35.The air drawn through the slots 42 is preheated by and during its flowaround the motor 35 and also effects the desired cooling of the motor.

The inwardly directed cylindrical air stream flows through the innershell 28. This shell is closed at its rear end by a metal wire-meshscreen 6| so as to prevent any possibility of hair being drawn into thedrier by the inwardly flowing air stream. The screen 6| is rigidlysecured to the shell 28 by a cone shaped flanged ring 62 pressed uponthe end of shell 28, which ring carries the circumferentially arrangedheating element or coil 41, insulated from the ring 53 by spacingmembers or posts 63 of insulating material.

When it is desired to operate the drier, the burner unit 5, fed with gasthrough rubber tubing 61, or in any other suitable manner, is ignitedand the drier head 8 is adjusted to its proper heights by adjusting thetubular support 22 with respect to collar 25. The switch 45 is turned tostart the motor and if desired to feed current to the heating coil 41.Under ordinary conditions the supply of gas heated air from chamber 1 tothe drier is more than sufilcient to circulate a properly heated airstream. However, it might be desirable in some cases to heat therecirculating stream directly by the electrical heating element. Thiscan easily be effected by turning the switch 45 to the position in whichboth the motor circuit and the heating coil circuit are under current. Adamper 64 rigidly supported upon a shaft 65 mounted in opposite walls ofthe pipe l0 permits of regulation of the amount of heated air admittedinto the rear chamber portion. This damper is provided with an actuatingknob 66 extending laterally of the pipe ID in a position readilyaccessible to the operator.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of myinvention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof arepossible. My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted exceptinsofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A drier comprising a support, a casing, mounted on said support, afan in said casing for causing a current of air to flow through saidcasing, means within said casing for heating said air current and meansmounted on said support and in communication with said casing forheating fresh air to be fed into said air current.

2. A drier comprising a shiftable support, a casing hingedly andvertically adjustably mounted on said support, means for causing acurrent of air to flow through said casing including an electric motorOperated fan, means associated with said fan for drawing heated freshair into the circulating air stream, operated heating means mounted onsaid support including an air chamber, said heating means being adaptedto heat air passing therethrough and feed same into said air chamber,and extensible piping means pivotally connected with said air chamberand hingedly connected with said casing for connecting said air chamberwith said casing and permitting of heated air being drawn into theeasing by the means associated with said fan in any adjusted position ofsaid casing with respect to said heating means.

3. A drier as described in claim 2, wherein an electrical heater isarranged Within said casing and cooperating with said first mentionedheating means for individually and jointly heating the said air current.

4. A drier comprising a hollow standard, a heating unit within saidstandard, means exposed to said heating unit for heating fresh air,means for gathering the heated air, a casing supported by said standard,means within said casing including an electrical motor operated fan forcausing a current of air to flow through said casing,

means associated with said fan for drawing air into said fan and feedingsame into the air current, and pipe means connecting said gatheringmeans for the fresh, heated air with said casing to permit of the heatedair being drawn into the casing for mingling with and heating said airstream.

5. A drier as described in claim 4 wherein said casing is subdivided bya partition wall, having a central opening, into two compartments, saidcompartments being in communication with each other through saidopening, wherein one of said compartments has rotatably confined thereinthe fan and the means associated therewith, and wherein the othercompartment communicates through said pipe means with said gatheringmeans for the heated air to promote the feeding of the heated air intosaid air current and the intermingling of said heated air with said aircurrent.

6. A drier comprising a vertically disposed hollow support, a casingmounted on said support, means for causing a current of air to flowthrough said casing including an electrical motor operated fan,electrical heating means in said casing, a second heating means withinsaid support for heating air, means for conducting fresh air to a pointdirectly above said second heating means, and piping means offsetlaterally from and connecting said second air heating means with saidcasing to permit of air heated by said second heating means being drawnby said fan into said casing for mingling with and heating said aircurrent.

7. A drier comprising a hollow support, a casing pivotally mounted onsaid support, means for causing a current of air to flow within saidcasing including an electrical motor operated fan, an air chamberconnected to and offset with respect to said support, air tubesextending transversely of said hollow support adapted to conduct freshair to said offset air chamber, a heater in said support beneath saidair tubes adapted to heat air passing therethrough and feed same intosaid air chamber, and piping means connecting said air chamber with saidcasing to permit of heated air being drawn by said fan into said casingfor mingling with and heating said air current.

WENDELL L. MARTIN.

